Police: Ohio woman drugged, raped 4-year-old girl for boyfriend

Barberton
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An Ohio woman is behind bars, accused of drugging and raping a four-year-old girl, photographing the crime and sending the images to her boyfriend, who has also been arrested and charged, on his orders.

The Akron Beacon Journalreports Barberton resident Cecilia D. Lower, 30, and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Jacob L. Singleton of New Franklin, were arrested on October 23 by Barberton police.

According to police, Lower conspired with Singleton to drug a four-year-old girl and then photograph the child being raped. Police say Singleton stole a prescription antidepressant pill from a family member and gave it to Lower to slip to their victim. Singleton then allegedly ordered Lower to "engage in sexual contact of various measures" with the victim, photograph the acts and send the images to him on his mobile phone.

Cecilia D. Lower and Jacob L. Singleton

Barberton police

Police also accuse Lower of drugging a separate minor. A search of the suspects' residences turned up mobile phones, sexual devices and drugs.

Lower has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of pandering obscenities involving a minor. Singleton is charged with complicity to rape and pandering obscenities. Both are being held in the Summit County Jail on $1 million bond each.

Earlier this week, a Georgia couple was indicted in Athens for allegedly raping a 10-year-old special needs child at knifepoint. Matthew Wilson Freethy-Swimm, 27, is accused of holding a knife to the autistic boy's throat while 25-year-old Melissa Nicole Jones raped him.

Last week, a Lubbock, Texas couple was indicted on charges of aggravated sexual assault on multiple children. William Edward Briley, 34, allegedly sexually abused two girls, ages 4 and 5, in 2010, while 27-year-old Lacy Nichole McCauley is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in 2011.